The Preacher, The Worship Leader

In many churches there is a separation of sermon and worship. Both are seen to occur in the service, but they are perceived to be distinct elements. In some churches the service feels like two events – the song service and the sermon. In other churches the preacher is expected to lead the whole service whether or not the preacher is capable or desirous of the responsibility!

I hope we would agree that worship is more than song-singing. Actually, worship is about revelation of God and response to God. While revelation of God need not be restricted to the sermon, it should surely include the sermon. So the sermon plays a role in the worship of the church.

This has all sorts of possible implications in respect to structuring a church service and planning the interaction of sermon and song. For example, what comes after the sermon? It can be a horrible feeling to preach a sermon and then see people switch off and switch back to normal life during the token singing of a closing song (sometimes a sermon and its application needs space to “soak” in). Equally it can be wholly disappointing to be lifted up through a sermon and then not given the opportunity to respond in well-chosen and well-led song.

I feel that as preachers we need to recognize our role as worship leaders, yet at the same time recognize the wonderful ministry of those capable in leading response through music. As a preacher I am a worship leader, yet I know so well that there are others who can lead worship so much better than I. We need each other.

2 thoughts on “The Preacher, The Worship Leader”

Hi Peter
you have raised some questions about singing after a sermon – do you have any answers or personal experience that leads you one way or the other in terms of whether to sing or not to sing?

Hi Daniel – I see it as a case-by-case issue. The main issue is the message – where does it end and how does it leave people? Are they left pensive and contemplative? Then no song would be better. Are they left stirred to worship or needing a way to express their response? Then a well chosen song may work well. It also depends on the worship leader (i.e. can they be trusted to follow the flow, or will they undermine the message by restating it in different terms that actually change or negate it?) I prefer to look at it each time and decide accordingly, and sometimes change the plan during preaching as I sense the response. What I don’t like is a default “closing song” that seems to allow people to “switch back” into the “real world” and forget what has gone before.

danielgodden

April 30, 2008 at 11:24 pm

Hi Peter
you have raised some questions about singing after a sermon – do you have any answers or personal experience that leads you one way or the other in terms of whether to sing or not to sing?

Peter Mead

May 6, 2008 at 6:54 pm

Hi Daniel – I see it as a case-by-case issue. The main issue is the message – where does it end and how does it leave people? Are they left pensive and contemplative? Then no song would be better. Are they left stirred to worship or needing a way to express their response? Then a well chosen song may work well. It also depends on the worship leader (i.e. can they be trusted to follow the flow, or will they undermine the message by restating it in different terms that actually change or negate it?) I prefer to look at it each time and decide accordingly, and sometimes change the plan during preaching as I sense the response. What I don’t like is a default “closing song” that seems to allow people to “switch back” into the “real world” and forget what has gone before.